Proposals sent to PMO for Upadhyaya's centenary celebrations

The Union Culture Ministry has sent a set of proposals to the PMO for the birth centenary celebrations of Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyay which the government has decided to commemorate in a big way.
The proposal includes setting up a research university to be named after the "guiding light" of Bhartiya Jan Sangh, the earlier avatar of BJP, and a museum showcasing his life at his native Nagla Chandrabhan village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, sources privy to the development said.
According to the sources, the culture ministry, the nodal ministry for the celebrations, has sent a 'tentative list' containing the names of 15 people who would be on the committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to oversee the preparations.

Union ministers for Home, Finance and Culture, UP governor, besides senior BJP leaders, including its president Amit Shah figure in the list, which is awaiting PMO's clearance.
"The PMO cleared the centenary year celebrations last week following which the proposal on the committee and a series of programmmes planned between 2016-17 was sent to PMO for approval," the sources said.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public rally at Upadhyaya's native village on May 25 to mark completion of his government's first year in office.

The focus of the year-long celebrations that kick off next year would be farmers, children and women, besides promotion of tribal arts. Attempts will also be made to reach out to the rural pockets and upgrade district libraries.

"The committee would take a call on the folk arts to be promoted. Also, attention would be paid to improving many district libraries that are in dilapidated condition. More literature would be added to these libraries as part of the celebrations," the sources said.
The government is also looking at improving road and rail connectivity to Nagla Chandraban and promoting the village as a tourist destination.
Born on September 25, 1916, Upadhyaya was one of the foremost leaders of Jan Sangh. A full-timer in RSS, he moved to Lakhimpur district in Uttar Pradesh as an organizer and, in 1955, became the Provincial Organizer of the outfit in the state. He became Jan Sangh president in 1968.